Colour Crush: Cafe Du Cycliste Madeleine Tie & Dye

Perpetually the preferred attire of hippies and Dead Heads, tie-dye has come of age, thanks to Cafe Du Cycliste. Their new release, Madeleine Tie & Dye, combines ultra-modern fabric technology with the organic effect — and the result is sublime.

The French kit manufacturer has worked with their supplier to create a run of completely individual limited edition gilets in a male and female cut, with all of the technological and comfortable refinements you would expect.

For lovers of the custom bicycle, the manufacturing process is just as captivating as the final product, and Cafe Du Cycliste has provided images to demonstrate what went on behind the scenes.

From the website: Highly technical, lightweight and matched with a luxurious, by hand, dye finish. Fully windproof, water repellent and constructed from a durable ripstop fabric, the gilet has an interior resin coating with aluminum ions which reflect body heat for additional warmth.

The cutting-edge technology is seamlessly married with the artisanal coloring technique, meaning each piece in this restricted run is completely unique, with no two patterns being exactly the same. It’s both high tech and handmade to provide exceptional performance with individual style.

Cut a size smaller than our classic Madeleine, the gilet is constructed with a mesh insert at the back to improve ventilation and help keep your core temperature under control. For added visibility in low light conditions, it also has a reflective element on the back.

There are those of us who wouldn’t balk at pulling on a tie-dyed garment but for those who wouldn’t have dreamed of it, this new piece should break down any inhibitions of including it in their mid-season cycling wardrobe.